Typographical distributing machine



Nov. 8, 1927. 7 1,648,051

D. s. KENNEDY TYPQGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed March 11, 1925 Q a MIND l ls/ggm Patented Nov. 6, 1927.

attend unrrsn stares earner Qt'hltih- DAVID S. KENNEDY, 01E BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 IVIERGENTEALER LING- TYIPE COMPANY, A GUR-POlR-ATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

Application filed March 11, 1925. Serial No. 14,597.

My invention relates to typographical machines, such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in U. S. Letters Patent to O. Mcrgenthaler, No. 136,532, wherein circulating matrices are released from a channeled magazine in the order in which they are to appear in print and then assembled in line, the composed line transferred to the face of a mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug or linotype against the matrices Which produce the type characters thereon, and the matrices thereafter distributed according'to character and returned through a channeled magazine entrance to the magazine from which they started. In these machines, the magazine entrance is usually provided with a series of partitions which divide it into matrix channels and which are 'formed at their lower ends with bent-over flangesarranged to guide the matrices by their projecting ears asthey pass to the magazine (see the Butts Patent No. 1,099,486). In some instances, as when the entrance channels are extremely wide, the matrix guiding flanges, instead of being formed directly on the partitions, are located on leaf sections attached thereto (see my prior Patent No. 1,367,606).

The use of such matrir: uiding flanges has proved in practice to be very advantageous, since they insure the proper delivery of the matrices, whether thick or' thin, into the magazine channels. However, when passing through the magazine entrance, the matrices strike the guiding flanges with considerable force in being deflected into the magazine channels, and as a result of this repeated pounding and frictional engagement, the matrix ears frequently become badly worn. This is particularly true of the thinner matrices which, because '01 their greater freedom, sometimes assume a tilted or twisted position in the entrance channels and require a greater amount of deflection by the guiding flanges before they are directed into the magazine channels. Indeed, such tilting of the matrices is oftentimes the direct result of the rebound and deflection which occurs after striking the guiding flanges.

The present invention is intended to obviate the foregoing difficulties and aims to enable the guiding flanges to cooperate with the matrices, whether thick or thin, in the most favorable manner. To this end, spei cifically, the entrance partitions are provided in advance of the guiding flanges with very light spring plates which are arranged to engage the matrices by their side faces and direct them to one side of the entrance channels before they reach the guiding flanges. These spring plates are made strong enough to exert the required guiding effect upon the thinnest matrix and yet flexible enough to be pushed aside by the thickest matrix without interrupting its passage.

The exact form and arrangement of the parts wil best. be understood from the de tailed description which follows.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1. is a vertical section taken through the upper part of a linotype machine equipped with the present improvements;

Fi 2 is a fragmentary view showing the relation existing between the entrance partitions and the magazine channels, the top plates of both the entrance and magazine being omitted to show the interior construction;

Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of one of the entrance partitions with the attached matrix guiding parts; and i i Fig. i is a view similar to 1, showing the improvements as applied to'a multiple distributor machine employing long magazine entrances.

In Figs. 1. to 3, the invention is shown as applied to a machine equipped with a single distributor, which comprises as usual the longitudinally ribbed or permuted bar B and the set oi matrix conveying screws C. The matrices X are stored in the mega: zine A, which is of the regular trapezoidal shape and is provided on the inner faces of its top and bottom plates with a series of ribs a, presenting sets of opposed grooves a which converge from the upper to the lower ends thereof and provide guides or channels wherein the projecting ears X of the matrices engage. As shown in Fig. 2, the ribs a are tapered or bevelled off at their upper encs so as to flare or widen the mouths of the intervening channels a and thus'facilitate the engagement therein of the projecting ears of the matrices. The matrices are conducted from the distributor to the magazine through a magazine entrance D, which in machines of the type under discussion is comparatively short, as shown. This entran comp i e tweside'p a e and a eries of intermediate partitions (Z which divide it into a series of chutes or channels leading from the various bar combinations to the respective channels of the magazine. As more clearly shown in Fig. 2, the partitions (Z (or at least some of them) are provided at their lower endswith laterally projeeting flanges (Z arranged to engage and guide the,matrices by their projecting ears X just before they enter the magazine channels. In some instances, as indicated at the extreme right in Fig. 2, these guiding flanges are formed directly on the partitions d, while in other instances they are formed'on separate plateszl suitably joined at their upper ends to the partitions (Z and having their lower ends turned back on themselves to form loops d which act as spacers to separate the plates from the partitions and hold the former at the required inclination. As-so far described, the parts are or may be the same as set forth in my prior Letters Patent No. 1,367,606, to which reference may be had for further details, if desired.

According to the present invention, the wider entrance chutes or channels are provided with resilient guiding members located in advance of the guiding flanges (Z and arranged to engage the side faces of the matrices before they come under the control of said flanges. In the embodiment illustrated, these resilient guiding members are in the form of very light spring plates cl* curved to conform to the shape of the partitions (Z and riveted or otherwise secured thereto at their upper ends and having their lower endsfree and terminating above the guiding flanges but at a distance therefrom not exceeding the length of the upper projecting ears of the matrices. The upper edges of the spring plates are thinned down to a knife edge to avoid any possible interference with the passing matrices. As clearly appears from the drawings, the spring plates d" overlap the inclined. plates (1 and lie across the entrance channels so asto intercept the matrices in their passage therethrough.

According to the foregoing arrangement, as the matrices pass through the magazine entrance. they are obliged to encounter the spring plates (Z before beingacted upon by the guiding flanges (Z. As a result (re-fen ring to one channel only forthe'sake ofclearness), the spring plate acts to direct the matrices to one side of the chute or channel and press them flatly up against the side or partition opposite the one to which the guiding flanges; are attached, straightening them up if need be and then continuing to hold themin contact with the opposite side until their upper ends pass beyond'the lower end of the spring plate. However, since the disstance' of'the lower end of the spring plate fr0in the guiding-fianges is less" than the length of the upper ears of the matrices, the latter are given no opportunity to turn or twist within the chute or channel before their projecting ears become engaged with the guiding flanges, and hence the latter are enabled to maintain the matrices under positive control until they have passed entirely into the magazine channel. This action of thespring plate will be the same irrespective of the thickness of the passing matrices, although it will be understood that the plate will-yield different distances according to the thickness of the matrix acted upon. In practice, the spring'plate will be set across the channel so as to leave space enough for the extremely thin matrices to pass without much flexing of the plate, but in any case the plate will be light and flexible enough to yield to permit matrices of all thicknesses to pass without interruption. It will now be apparent that the matrices, in passing through the entrance chutes or channels, are always presented to the guiding flanges in straight upright condition and with their projecting ears occupying the most favorable position for cooperation with the guiding flanges, so that the amount of deflection of the matrices and the wear upon the ears, as well asthe liability to turning or twisting, are reduced to a minimum.

In Fig. cl, the invention is shown air-applied to a multiple distributor machine eniploying a. plurality of comparatively long magazine entrances D which, except in the matter of length, are substantially of the same construction as the magazine entrance D. In thisinstance, the spring plates (Fare made straight to conform to the partitions (I, but thcyfunctimi in connection with the guiding flanges (Z in the same manner as above described.

It is recognized that it is old to provide a distributing chute or channel at its discharge end with a very light spring plate to direct the matrices to one side of the chute or chanin controllingtheir passage therefrom. as shown for exai'nple in the Mcrgenthaler & Lawrcnz Pa tent No. '1' 94,628, butin this patent, the spring alone is relied-upon to enercise such control. According to the present invention. the passage of the matrices from the distributing chute "or channel is controlled as heretofore by the guidingflanges which cooperate with the projecting ears of the matrices, and the spring plate is employed to insure the proper cooperation of the-matrices with such guiding flanges. it being this particular combination to which the i'nvention is directed and which is believed to be entirely new. It will be understood that the particular form or entent of the spring plate is immaterial so long as it can function in the manner set forth. Moreover, the invention is not limited in its broader aspects to the use of aspri-ng plate,

ll l

as other forms of resilient guiding means or members may be employed to accomplish the same result.

Having thus described invention, its

construction and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. In or for a typographical machine for handling matrices formed with projecting ears, a matrix distributing-chute or channel provided at its discharge end with flanges arrangedto guide the matrices by their projecting ears and provided in advance of said flanges with resilient means arranged. to

guide the matrices by their side faces, the

, said means being readily displaceable by the passing matrices.

2. In or for a typographical machine for handling matrices formed with projecting cars, a matrix distributing chute or channel provided at its discharge end with flanges arranged to guide the matrices by their projecting ears and provided in advance of said flanges with a resilient guiding member arranged to engage the matrices by their side faces, the said member being readily displaceable by the passing matrices.

3. In or for a typographical machine for handling matrices formed with projecting cars, a matrix distributing chute or channel provided at its discharge end with flanges arranged to guide the matrices bytheir projecting ears and provided in advance of said flanges with a light spring plate arranged to engage and guide the matrices by their side faces, the said plate being readily displaceable by the passing matrices.

a. In or for a typographical machine for handling matrices formed with projecting ears, a matrix distributing chute or channel provided at its discharge end with flanges arranged to guide the matrices by their projecting ears and provided in advance of said flanges with a resilient guiding member arranged to engage the matrices by their side faces, the said resilient guiding member being readily displaceable by the passing matrices and terminating at its lower end above the guiding flanges but at a distance therefrom not exceeding the length of the upper ears ofthe matrices.

5. In or for a typographical machine for handling matrices formed with projecting cars, a matrix distributing chute or channel provided at its discharge end with flanges arranged to guide the matrices by their projecting ears and provided in advance. of said flanges with a light spring plate arrangedto engage and guide the matrices by their side faces, the said spring plate being readily jdisplaceable by the passing matrices and terminating at its lower end above the guiding flanges but at a distance therefrom not exceeding the length of the upper ears of the matrices.

6. In or for a typographical machine for handling matrices formed with projecting ears, a matrix distributing chute or channel provided at its discharge end with flanges arranged to guide the matrices by their projecting ears and provided in advance of said flanges with aresilientguiding member arranged to engage the matrices by their side faces and readily displace-able by the passing matrices, the said resilient guiding member being securedat its upper end to the side of the chute or channel at a point below its receiving end and having its lower end free and terminating in advance of the guiding flanges.

7. In or for a typographical machine for handling matrices formed with projecting ears, a matrix distributing chute or channel provided at its discharge end with flanges arranged to guide the matrices by their projecting ears and provided in advance of said flanges with a resilient guidingmember arranged to engage the matrices by their side faces and readily displaceable by the passing matrices, the said resilient guiding member being secured at its upper end to the side of the chute or channel and having its upper end thinned down to a knife edgeto avoid interference with the matrices.

8. In or for a typographical machine for.

handling matrices formed with projecting ears, a matrix distributing chute or channel provided at its discharge end with an inclined plate formed with laterally projecting flanges arranged to guide the matrices by then projecting ears and provided further with a resilient guiding member overlapping the inclined plate and terminating at its lower end in advance of the guiding flanges, the .said plate being readily displaceable by the passing matrices. v

In testimony whereof, I have affixed my signature hereto.

DAVID s. KENNEDY. 

